Australia’s severe flu season: what we can learn

One way we can prepare for the season ahead is by looking at flu severity and spread in other countries. Scientists especially like to look at countries like Australia, which have their winter – and their flu season – during our summer.¹

So, what was the flu like in Australia this year? The first week of the season was similar to 2023 trends,¹ which were among the most severe on record — including low vaccination rates and high vulnerability among children, who made up nearly 80% of the country’s flu hospitalizations at one stage.² In 2024, many jurisdictions tracked increased flu activity,¹ and influenza-related deaths were higher in the first three months compared to 2022 and 2023.³

Of course, this doesn’t mean the same thing will happen in the United States. Flu activity is heavily influenced by outside factors, including human behavior, vaccination rates and weather conditions.⁵ But Australia’s flu season does offer some insight that can inform our own best practices.

Here are three key takeaways from Australia’s flu season that can help us in the months to come.

1. Flu management starts with the vaccine

During the 2023 season, flu vaccination in the Australian population was approximately 32% — lower than the previous year’s 39%. Children under 5 years had a vaccination rate of 29%,⁴ which coincided with higher flu hospitalizations.⁵

In 2024, about 540,000 fewer Australians got the vaccine. According to a survey, reasoning included cost concerns, inconvenience and misunderstandings about the flu and vaccine.⁷

There’s a similar trend in the U.S. In the 2023-24 flu season, vaccination rates among adults over 18 years were 44.9%, down from 46.9% in the 2022-23 season, and the number has been declining since 2020. Among children 6 months to 17 years, the 2023-24 rate was 55.4%, down from 57.4% the previous season.⁸

Takeaway: Flu vaccination rates are dropping, and this has historically been associated with higher influenza-related hospitalizations. Appropriate vaccination helps reduce the risk of severe illness for all populations, including those who are most vulnerable.

2. Practice on-site flu prevention practices to minimize spread

In 2024, Australia experienced a wave of rapidly increasing COVID-19 infections coinciding with a rise in influenza cases. Local health services initiated extra safety measures including reinstating mask mandates and more frequent COVID-19 testing at hospitals.⁸

Knowing what we do about how respiratory viruses spread from person to person, this extra vigilance about prevention and control practices makes sense. During flu season, patient-facing health systems should follow strict protocols for dealing with both healthy patients and those presenting with signs of viral illness:⁹


• Patients who are suspected of having the flu should be provided with a mask and a private room.
• Other standard flu management precautions should be followed as well, including hand hygiene, environmental infection control measures and appropriate monitoring of all healthcare personnel.
• Staff should monitor visitor access and movement within the facility.

3. Be ready to adapt

Australia’s flu season peaked in July 2024, but cases eventually declined.¹⁰ For U.S. healthcare providers, this serves as a reminder that the flu season evolves, just like the virus itself. Pay attention to data on local and regional flu transmissions and modify your approach as needed

This may mean targeting vaccine awareness in the early months and then turning your focus to internal flu prevention strategies as the season progresses. It may also impact how you stock flu management products.

Ultimately, it’s always challenging to predict what a flu season will bring. Look to Australia’s 2023 and 2024 flu seasons to track patterns and identify potential challenges, but don’t treat them like a blueprint. If you follow evidence-based practices for flu management and prevention, you’ll already be a step ahead where it really matters.

Updated 11/2024